[SOE LETTERHEAD]
July 24, 2006
The Honorable A. J. Eggenberger
Chairman
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
625 Indiana Avenue, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20004-2941
Dear Mr. Chairman:
In June 2005, I provided you with a copy of the Department's revised Implementation Plan to Improve Oversight of Nuclear Operations in response to Board recommendation 2004-1. �Since that time, the Department has completed numerous planned actions and has learned from this experience how best to sustain real improvement in this area. �Based on the feedback to date, we are preparing to make a course correction on our implementation plan to improve its effectiveness and to bolster line management accountability. �To this end, we plan to revise our 2004-1 implementation plan and provide you with this revision by September 2006. �I have directed Mr. Mark B. Whitaker to serve as the Department's responsible manager for this effort.
The Department is currently re-considering several planned actions in the 2004-1 plan and expects to make changes. �The enclosure identifies several near-term actions that are under review for potential modification and will not be completed on the schedule provided in the June 2005 plan. �The Department's final decision, basis, and path forward for these commitments will be provided along with the revised 2004-1 implementation plan. �In addition, the enclosure also provides the Department's revised schedules for other existing 2004-1 commitments.
Should you have any questions about our path forward, please do not hesitate to contact me or have your staff contact Mr. Mark B. Whitaker at (202) 586-3887.
Sincerely,
Samuel
W. Bodman
cc: �Mark B. Whitaker